Toilet bowl ventilation

ABSTRACT

A toilet bowl ventilation apparatus having a seat adapted to seat sealingly on a toilet bowl, a seal adapted to fit between the seat and the bowl, and extractor means mountable to extract air from the bowl, including a fan which is powered by a dry cell battery.

I Unlted States Patent 1 1 3,600,724

[72] Inventors 11611111 Harry 2,696,619 12/1954 Ring 4/217 1891 WM Roll. im 3,332,089 7/1967 wi|1611.. 4/213 fl 688,234 12/1901 BI'OWII 4/213 John OsboneMcEwln Abbott, 1,298,584 3/1919 Shaw 4/213 Joh n rg, Tr mv Republic 1,700,936 2/1929 K161111811 et a1. 4/213 1,883,406 10/1932 1161111111; 4/213 1 1 pp N9 1 1,972,076 9/1934 c1611 4/217 1 Filed t- 1 2,151,138 3/1939 M61111 4/213 1 Patented a- 1 2,171,903 9/1939 111111111 4/213 1 1 an lg 3,386,109 6/1968 01111101111111 4;4/213;217

i- 9 [32] may I H s I n FOREIGN ITQTENTS Great Bntatn .1 1,213,132 12/1959 France 505,507 8/1930 Germany 4/213 [54] TOUT BOWL Wm" 868,878 9/ 1954 Germany 4/213 4 Claims, 7 Drawhg Fir. Primary Examiner-Laveme D. Geiger [52] Us n 4 217 Arstrmnl Exammer-Dorrald H. Massenberg [5]] Int (1 Arm 1/3/30 1 Attorney-Wenderoth, Lmd & Ponaclt [50] chasm-611 4/209,213,

2171218 AIS'IRACT: A 1611611161111611111111611 1 1 11111111 havingaseat v adapted to seat sealingly on a toilet bowl, :1 seal adapted to lit 5 UN mm Cu between the seat and the bowl, and extractor means mounta- "ED STATES PATEN-ls ble to extract air from the bowl, including a fan which is 962,490 6/1910 131111161 7 powered by a dry cell battery. r

PATENTEU AUB24 l97| SHEET 1 UF 2 F'ICLS.

ROBIN-HARRY STAMPER Mm JOHN osaoaui MEWAN ABBoTT PATENTED A0624 em sum 2 nr 2 "ROBIN mm! mm "a 3mm ossoaut mwm mom LDu-ludl y p i mun-u This disclosure relates to the ventilation of toilet bowls. It also relates to means for use in such ventilation.

' According to the disclosure a method of toilet bowl ventilation includes extracting air from the bowl and of preventing or minimizing the inflow of air into the bowl over the rim of the bowl.

The method may include thestep of sealing off the space between the bowl and its seat.

The disclosure extends also to a system for ventilating a toilet bowl, and which includes a seat adapted to seat sealingly on the bowl, and extractor means adapted to extract air from the bowl.

The sealing may be provided by a seal between the bowl rimand the seat. The seal may be ducted, having at least one inlet opening directed inwardly and communicating with the interior of the bowl, and having anoutlet opening connected to the inlet of the extractor means. The seal may be of-a nonabsorbent material which is resistant to urine. It may conveniently have a glazed or glossy surface. If desired the seal may secured to the underside of the seat.

The extractor means may be automatically operable by means of an electrical switch positioned between the bowl and the seat and operable by pressure exerted on the seat. The extractor means may be a battery operable fan, which may have a delivery duct leading through a wall. If desired the extractor means may be mounted on that side of the wall which is remote from the toilet bowl. Alternatively, the extractor means may include a deodorizer through which extracted air is delivered.

According-to another aspect of the apparatus there is pro vided a toilet bowl ventilation kit comprising a seal adapted to fit between the seat and the bowl of a toilet installation, and extractor means mountable to extract air from the bowl.

The rear part of the seal may be hollow and may have an outlet opening, the extractor means being adapted for connection to the outlet opening of the seal. 1

The apparatus will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a toilet bowl installation incor-, porating the apparatus; I

FIG. 2 shows a part three-dimensionalview of one type of seal in position on the underside of a toilet seat; 3

FIG. 3 shows a sectional side elevation of a toilet seat and seal assembly; 7

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic sectional side elevation of-extractor means including a battery operable fan;

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a seal;

FIG. 6 shows-a part isometric view of a mould for making a seal; and

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic side elevation of another type of extractor means. Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a toilet bowl installation comprising a toilet bowl 12 having conventional seat 14 which is hingedly mounted about an axis 13 at the rear of the bowl. Between the bowl rim and the seat 14, there is provided a ducted seal 16 having inlet openings 18 located in relatively short projecting duct portions of the seal. The seal further has' a stem 20 defining an outlet opening. The stem is flexible to permit bending when the seat is raised or lowered. The

2 prises a member of hollow resilient construction, having a pair of opposed contacts 34.1 and 34.2 adapted to make electrical contact, when the member flexes under outside pressure.

The seal 16 may conveniently be of a shallow C-section having a pair of opposed lips 16.1, provided with cover strips 16.2, which are removable to expose pressure sensitive surfaces for attachment to the underside 14.1 of the seat 14. The

usual stoppers on the underside of the seat will be covered by the seal. s 1 I The seal is made by partly immersing a mould 40 in a settable fluid material such that thexmaterial flows over the lands 42 to form the lips 16.1. The lands 42 are separated by a ridge 44. The stem 46 is for forming the trunk of the seal. To facilitate dipping the mold 40 is suspended from .hangers 48. The mold has projections 50 for the formation of formations to receive the openings 18. After immersion the material sets.

openings 18 are directed downwardly to ensure that liquids passing through will drain out again when the seat is in raised position.

The stem 20 is adapted for connection to the inlet opening I 22 of extractor means 24. The extractor means 24 includes a fan 26, driven'from a flashlight battery 28 housed in a casing 29. The extractor means has an outlet duct 30 of synthetic plastic material. The extractor means has a pair of leads 32 adapted to pass along the hollow part of the seal 16 to a switch 34 arranged at the front of the seat 14. The switch 34 com Depending upon the material used, one immersion to provide one coat may be sufficient. But if necessary several coats may be provided. After coating. the mold and coating may be baked. After baking the seal is removed from the mold.

The seal 16 and the extractor means-24 together may constitute a Do-it-Yourself kit.

' If desired, thefan and battery casing may be mounted on the inside of the wall 36 as shown at 24 in FIG. 1. However, it x will also be possible to mount the fan and battery casing on the outside of the wall as shown dotted in FIG. lat 24.1.

In use, pressure applied to the seat 14 such as by a person sitting on it, will cause the switch 34 to'flex thereby causing the contacts 34.1 and 34.2 to close an electrical circuit thereby energizing the .fan' 26. This will cause a draught causing contaminated air within the bowl to be drawn in via the openings 18 in the seal 16. The contaminated air is delivered by the fan, through the wall, or to a deodorizer vessel'depending upon the type'of installation used. 5

Instead of discharging through an opening in the wall, it-may be'advantageous to have the delivery of the extractor 24 arranged to deliver through a deodorizer cartridge into a deodorizer vessel or odor absorber. i

Referring now to FIG. 7,-there is shown extract or means generally indicated by reference numeral 24.7. It includes a In use, contaminated air will enter the casing via its inlet opening 22. The air will then pass through the deodorizer unit 70, and past the air sweetener block 72. a

It is an advantage of this apparatus that, because of the seal, the extractor'means does not have to handle a large quantity of air in order to make the system efi'ective. The seal permits the use, therefore, of only a relatively small fan, which can be battery operated.

It will be understood that although one type of seal has been shown and described, other constructions are possible.

We Claim:

1. A toilet seat conventionallypivotable between a raised rear of the seat and at least one air extraction opening located in a relatively short projecting duct portion of said seal at'the rear inner periphery of the seat opening, the extraction open-' ing and duct portion being disposed inwardly of the seal and being so positioned that they are directed in a downward direction when the seat is in raised position, the extraction conduit having an outlet connection connectable to air extractor means. i a I 2. A lavatory seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the seal and extraction conduit are integral with each other.

3. A lavatory seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the extraction conduit is of a nonabsorbent material resistant to urine.

4. A combination seal and air extraction conduit attachable to the underside of a toilet seat conventionally pivotable from a raised to a lowered position and engaging sealingly with the entire rim of a toilet bowl when the seat is in lowered position ready for use, the rear portion of the seal being of hollow tubular construction forming a conduit when secured to the toilet seat, and having an outlet connection connectable to extractor means, and having at least one air inlet opening located in a relatively short projecting duct portion of said seal along the inner periphery of the hollow rear portion, the said inlet opening and duct portion being so disposed that they are directed in a downward direction when the seat is in its raised position, and when the combination seal and air extractor conduit is secured to the underside of said toilet seat. 

1. A toilet seat conventionally pivotable between a raised and a lowered position which includes a closed annular hollow tubular seal on its underside and a conventional seat opening, the seal encircling said seat opening and being engageable sealingly with the rim of a toilet bowl when the seat is in lowered position ready for use; an air extraction conduit at the rear of the seat and at least one air extraction opening located in a relatively short projecting duct portion of said seal at the rear inner periphery of the seat opening, the extraction opening and duct portion being disposed inwardly of the seal and being so positioned that they are directed in a downward direction when the seat is in raised position, the extraction conduit having an outlet connection connectable to air extractor means.
 2. A lavatory seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the seal and extraction conduit are integral with each other.
 3. A lavatory seat as claimed in claim 1, in which the extraction conduit is of a nonabsorbent material resistant to urine.
 4. A combination seal and air extraction conduit attachable to the underside of a toilet seat conventionally pivotable from a raised to a lowered position and engaging sealingly with the entire rim of a toilet bowl when the seat is in lowered position ready for use, the rear portion of the seal being of hollow tubular construction forming a conduit when secured to the toilet seat, and having an outlet connection connectable to extractor means, and having at least one air inlet opening located in a relatively short projecting duct portion of said seal along the inner periphery of the hollow rear portion, the said inlet opening and duct portion being so disposed that they are directed in a downward direction when the seat is in its raised position, and when the combination seal and air extractor conduit is secured to the underside of said toilet seat. 